DOCTOR WHO May Be Facing The Axe After Just Two Seasons Due To Low Viewership

DOCTOR WHO May Be Facing The Axe After Just Two Seasons Due To Low Viewership

There’s bad news for the Whoniverse today as a new report claims there’s a chance Doctor Who will be axed after its second season, with Disney+ bringing its deal with the BBC to a close. Check it out!

By JoshWilding - Jul 17, 2024 05:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Doctor Who
Source: Deadline (via SFFGazette.com)

After last year's 60th anniversary specials, Doctor Who returned earlier this year with Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson leading the series. Behind the scenes, Russell T Davies - who brought the series back from the dead in 2005 to great success - was appointed showrunner and the BBC made a deal with Disney+ to give the show a big budget overhaul and bring it to its largest audience ever.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have paid off. Deadline (via SFFGazette.com) has taken a deep dive into Doctor Who's performance since it returned to our screens in May with 8 new episodes and claims, "Noises that it may not last beyond its initial two seasons are already reverberating around international TV circles."

One source close to the production believes "its future hangs in the balance already." There's even chatter about the BBC/Disney+ deal not being re-upped after season 2 airs, suggesting Doctor Who will either be scrapped (again) or forced to go back to being a lower-budgeted production with a primarily UK-based audience. 

Disney has reportedly had a fair bit of creative input with the new series, though it's unclear whether that extends to the "woke" themes and casting which is indeed believed to have hurt viewership. Ironically, one of this relaunch's best episodes tackled the subject of racism, so this is disappointing to hear.

While Disney+ doesn't disclose viewing figures, the show did reach a high of seventh on the streamer's list of most in-demand series in the U.S. However, considering its budget and a pricey marketing campaign, viewership figures stateside are deemed "underwhelming" and "okay but not stellar."

Doctor Who has always had a bigger audience in the UK, of course, but the outlook there isn't much brighter. Its launch was well behind Jodie Whittaker's final episode (while she was a fine Doctor, her stint was considered a low point creatively), with the entire series down an average of 1.5 million viewers per episode compared to her time in the TARDIS.

The BBC is said to be happy with streaming numbers on its iPlayer, touting at least 65 million streams in 2024. 

"The ratings are a problem," one source tells the trade. "They can talk all they like about young viewers but they’re still down from the specials and down from the Jodie [Whittaker] series. I imagine serious conversations are happening. Disney will want to see results."

The House of Mouse is expected to step in once The War Between the Land and the Sea spin-off wraps, and a decision should be made quite quickly. One source believes the season 2 finale has been shot in a way to allow Gatwa to move on from the series, hinting that another creative overhaul might take place. 

The prospect of Disney+ parting ways with the BBC and Doctor Who is described as a "disaster" by one source. 

Where has it gone wrong for the series? Many fans have taken issue with Davies' creative decisions and the lack of classic villains. Meanwhile, Gatwa barely being featured in two of the eight episodes (due to scheduling conflicts with Sex Education) also did little to help establish him as the Doctor with newcomers and returning viewers alike. 

Only time will tell whether Doctor Who still has a future on our screens, but it's not looking good.

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S8R8M
S8R8M - 7/17/2024, 5:20 PM
I lost interest in Jodie Whittaker's Who. I heard a lot of people still love it. I hope it continues for them.
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 7/18/2024, 4:24 AM
@S8R8M - I struggled with Capaldi's Doctor... I had been looking forward to his iteration, but the writing just didn't seem great.
Although when I did manage to go back and make it through them, there were some amazing episodes.
S8R8M
S8R8M - 7/18/2024, 5:05 AM
@DevilsDreams - Thinking back, I did struggle with Capaldis too. You are right, the writing wasn't that exciting. It's a shame because he would have been great and he is a massive DW fan.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 7/17/2024, 5:20 PM
Oh thank Rao.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 7/17/2024, 5:23 PM
Where's Nelson Muntz when you need him?

Ah [frick] it...

HaHa!
Scarilian
Scarilian - 7/17/2024, 5:27 PM
Show needs to be cancelled for a while, given about 5-10 years on ice and then maybe attempt another semi-reboot.
TheyDont
TheyDont - 7/17/2024, 5:30 PM
Who could've guessed lol
ComicBandit
ComicBandit - 7/17/2024, 7:31 PM
@TheyDont - I guess most people were busy touching grass instead of watching.
dracula
dracula - 7/17/2024, 5:35 PM
I lost interest 1 season into the Capaldi era

Tried to give Jodie and chance but wasnt excited by what i heard

Wanted to give this guy a chance, but RTD’s clear bias for David Tennant in those special killed a lot of interest for me

Might be time for Doctor Who to take another hiatus

Maybe in 10 to 15 years a new young showrunner will bring it bqck with new ideas
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 7/17/2024, 5:36 PM
"it's unclear whether that extends to the 'woke' themes and casting which is indeed believed to have hurt viewership."

User Comment Image
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 7/17/2024, 6:35 PM
@GeneralZod - These types keep beating around the bush when it comes to that particular issue, because admitting that they've been wrong the entire time they were shilling for the big companies they used to pretend to be against would be way too hard on their ego.

They do it with tiny, hypocritical steps like this. First they'd call you a racist bigot for not liking the new thing, then they come out with article like this, and they probably STILL wonder why these shows keep failing.

It would be pretty funny, had we not all been dragged down with that BS for the past decade.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 7/17/2024, 6:41 PM
@OrgasmicPotatoe - It's like when the media lies for years about Biden's obvious mental decline. All of the videos of him wandering off, stumbling words, stumbling on bikes, stumbling on stage, stumbling up stairs were all apparently fake. Edited "cheap fakes" That is until the debates rolled around and EVERYONE could see.

The game is to lie, gaslight and manipulate until you're caught and then you quietly attempt to course correct.

Lead with good characters
Lead with a good story
Lead with something original

Leading with race/sexuality/gender is a surefire way to get people who are increasingly becoming hip to the game to reject your projects.

This is yet another failure in the world of identity politics.
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 7/17/2024, 6:56 PM
@DarthOmega - "Leading with race/sexuality/gender is a surefire way to get people who are increasingly becoming hip to the game to reject your projects. "

Precisely, well said. The ones who don't catch on may remain, but those who do usually don't go back. It's an increasingly diminishing audience. Have you heard Microsoft just fired their DEI team (more like DIE team, amirite) ? Apparently, it wasn't in their business model anymore. I wonder what Schwab told Gates !
ComicBandit
ComicBandit - 7/17/2024, 7:29 PM
@GeneralZod - 😂😂😂
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 7/17/2024, 7:40 PM
@OrgasmicPotatoe - Yes I'm aware of that. They aren't the only ones either. Other companies are trying to quietly abandon this nonsense too. Turns out skin color, genitals and who you're sexually attracted to isn't the best indicator of job performance. Color me SHOCKED!

I'm also aware of a certain head of the Secret Service stating her focus is getting 30% women on the team by 2030. Not the most qualified people to guard the life of our leaders, just a certain gender. Those women looked lost and barely came to Trump's chest. How the hell are they supposed to cover the body of a heavyset 6'2 guy when they're only like 5'5?

Girl power? I'm sorry the real world it doesn't work that way. They aren't the full cause of that failure, (hopefully it'll become more clear soon) but they sure as shit didn't help.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 7/17/2024, 7:43 PM
@OrgasmicPotatoe - It is astonishing how their ego (as you correctly note) utterly prevents them from admitting when something that is subpar or sucks is subpar or sucks. They double-down and triple-down. Ideology over quality.

I think we are going into a period where we will start to transition away from DEI, at least in its absolute, Sith-like form. Many corporates are dropping the "E", the Supreme Court of the United States ruled racial preferences in college admissions is illegal (reversing a nearly 50-year-old ruling), and of course Hollywood now seeing that they are not maximizing profits. We shall see how the evolution goes.
EgoEgor
EgoEgor - 7/17/2024, 8:06 PM
@GeneralZod - no freaking kidding. They series is falling because of quality and not subject matter. Be woke, be anti woke, whatever it is just be good, they failed at that.
X75
X75 - 7/18/2024, 12:09 AM
@GeneralZod - *act surprised*
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 7/18/2024, 4:29 AM
@OrgasmicPotatoe - Unfortunately when you have one side seem to step up and say "hey can we have a conversation about these issues" but the other side opens with "you're a bigot", you'll never really get to have a real nuanced discussion...
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 7/18/2024, 4:31 AM
@DarthOmega - "we want equal representation!!"
"ok want to become a brick layer?"
"no..."
"oh... want to go work on an oil rig?"
"no..."
"oh... so where do you want this 'equal' representation??"
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 7/18/2024, 7:12 AM
@DarthOmega - I don't think the mere idea of having women on the Secret service is bad in any way, but pushing for any percentage of a gender for something like this is definitely dumb. That picture of Trump with his fist up's got a women front and center protecting his life. The cultists must be seething at that thought 😂
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 7/18/2024, 7:19 AM
@GeneralZod - I've been wondering about that for around a year now. Netflix, Warner and another studio I forget right now, all quoetly fired their DEI representatives around the same time Victoria Alonso was fired. I was wondering, then, if we may not be seeing the fad start to crack.

It took some time for that shit to catch on, so it's gonna take some time for it to go away. But I hope you're right, and we can move on from this circus.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/18/2024, 8:54 AM
@DarthOmega - Well, you can't really cover anyone when you're ducking down and cowering in fear, which is literally the opposite of what you're supposed to be doing. 🤣

User Comment Image
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/18/2024, 8:57 AM
@DevilsDreams - "I want the money and title and status without the risk, work, and responsibility." 😜
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 7/18/2024, 3:07 PM
@Feralwookiee - User Comment Image
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/18/2024, 5:48 PM
@HashTagSwagg - Love it. 🤣
Godzilla2000Zer
Godzilla2000Zer - 7/17/2024, 5:42 PM
How unfortunate I've never been a huge Doctor Who fan but sad none the less but do they even need Disney?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/17/2024, 5:44 PM
@Godzilla2000Zer - Disney gives them a bigger budget , a chance to reach a wider audience and given the state of the BBC , a potential new home too so it’s needed I feel.
Thing94
Thing94 - 7/17/2024, 5:43 PM
Ya don't say? Lol
dracula
dracula - 7/17/2024, 5:44 PM
My doctor
?si=3oP3DI2RI_AxXN1M

And despite attempts to get back into the show, havent felt excited for it since

?si=hPRblO3JbrX6ooEH
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 7/17/2024, 5:50 PM
@dracula - And the writing was SO damned good thru his tenure.
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 7/18/2024, 4:33 AM
@dracula - I wasn't a fan of Smith at first, maybe it's because I'd gotten so comfortable with Tennant.
However I do feel that Smith really grew into the role amazingly well!
Muroh123
Muroh123 - 7/17/2024, 5:45 PM
Thinking about the presentation of racism and discrimination in media, I was reminded of this clip from the original Teen Titans animated show

?si=KE0rIBC7Prq0zagB&t=161

Admittedly, it's been a while since I watched the full episode, but I feel like older animated and live-action shows were able to better illustrate these themes than modern day media.
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